Aircraft gun turret



Oct. 9, 1951 e. BUSS'IERE ETAL AIRCRAFT GUN TURRET 4' Sheets-Sheet l ENTORS Filed Feb. 20, 1945 Oct. 9, 1951 G. BUSSERE ETAL AIRCRAFT GUN TURRET 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 20, 1945 INVENTORS Geo eBmswfie Oct. 9, 1951 Uss ETAL 2,570,761

AIRCRAFT GUN TURRET Filed Feb. 20, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS Geozyefizmrlew 4 1; azaat flolfon/ TENT ATTORNEY.

Oct. 9, 1951 G. BUSSIERE ETAL AIRCRAFT GUN TURRET 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 20, 1945 INVENTORS GCOQyeBuJWeve viva/10mm PATENT ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 9, 1951 AIRCRAFT GUN 'IU-RRET George Bus'siere and Edward 0. Bolton, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to North American Aviation, Inc.

Application February 20, 1945, Serial No. 578,892

15 Claims. (01. s s-37.5)

The present invention relates to armament and ordnance and more particularly to gun turrets of the power-driven type adapted for use in aircraft and the like.

The present invention comprises essentially a columnar support carrying multiple guns faired within individual turrets at each of the terminals of the columns. The invention embraces a novel method of supporting the columns and turrets from the fuselage structure in the waist gun position. as well as the manner of supporting the ammunition boxes of relatively great capacity from the columnar support. The invention also includes improvements in the operating mechanism for rotating the individual turrets both in azimuth and elevation and in the driving mechanism by which this is accomplished. Other features of the present invention relate to the novel arrangement and organization of the respective elements of the turret structure which results in a highly efficient and rugged assembly of great strength-to-weight ratio for both individual and multiple turret mounts.

It is accordingly a major object of the pres ent invention to provide a columnar support gun turret which is particularly adapted for use in the waist position of the aircraft fuselage. It is a further object to provide a power-driven dual turret arrangement in which each ofthe turrets carries multiple machine guns capable of individual or simultaneous aiming and firing. A further object resides in the provision of a remote controlled turret which offers relatively little resistance to forward flight in its stowed position. A further object of this invention comprises the provision of an improved structural support system for a columnar type turret whereby the' turret is rigidly supported and transmits firing recoil to the fuselage structure while providing adequate clearance around the support for access and operation by the gunners. Other objects and advantages reside in the specific relationship and organization of the elements comprising the present gun turret installation and will become apparent after a reading of the present specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a transverse elevation looking aft toward the waist position of an aircraft fuselage provided with the aircraft gun turret of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation taken along-the lines .22 of Fig. 1; r

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional. elevation of the upper half of the turret shown in Fig. 2 as taken along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional elevation of the upper turret assembly of Fig. 3 as taken along the lines 44 thereof; I

Fig. 5 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the upper columnar support or pedestal;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the cap portion of the support as taken along the lines 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a horizontal plan view look-ing upwardly of the drive portion of the base section of the column as taken along the lines 1-! of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a part-sectional elevational view of the base portionof the upper columnar support shown in Fig. 5-;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the structural support arrangement for the turrets;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged plan view of the structural support arrangement shown in Fig. 9';

Fig. 11 is a partial side elevational view of the same; and

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view of the rear mounting for one of the guns.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral I0 indicates the waist portion of an aircraft fuselage of substantially cylindrical section provided with transverse bulkhead frames I I and I2. The upper or deck portion of the fuselage is provided with a circular opening l3 around which there is formed a part-spherical fairing portion I4 within which the upper turret I6 is adapted to be rotated with the intermediate gap sealed by the extruded rubber tube l5. The transverse horizontal axis of the fuselage at the turret installation is indicated by the line AB and thelongitudinal axis of the fuselage and turret installation is indicated by the axis C--D which intersects A-B at the center 0. The vertical axis of the turret installation is indicated by the line E -F and disposed on this vertical axis at the bottom or belly portion of the fuselage there is provided a similar circular opening l-I around which is also built a part-spherical fairing portion l8 within which the lower turret 20 is adapted to be operated in a sealed relationship by means of the intermediate rubber seal tube IS.

The inner chord angles Ila. and I201. of the bulkhead frames H and I2 are vertically disposed for a substantial distance above and below the axis AB.and are located a sufiicient distance from the outside of the mid-portion of the bulkhead frame to give it relatively great depth at its mid-portion. To these portions of the bulkhead frames II and I2, there are extended from the right side of the fuselage looking forward, or from the top or outer side of Fig. 10, the bracket structures 2| and 22 which extend from the outer wall of the fuselage to a point just beyond its center on the axis C-D. Across the outer ends of the brackets 2| and 22 there are provided a pair of longitudinal beams 23 and 24 symmetrically disposed about the vertical axis EF on each side of the central point 0 and rigidly framed and attached to the transverse brackets and the vertical angles llc, lld, [2c and I201 fastened to the vertical web plates l lb and l2b, respectively. The structure comprising the bulkheads I I and I2, the brackets 2| and 22, and the beams 23 and 24; and certain'stifiening members to be described in connection with Figs. 9, 10 and 11, comprise the support for the upper and lower turrets l6 and 20.

On the inside of the fusela e adjacent th lower opening I! there are provided channel or sill members 26 and 21, representing, respectively, the longitudinal and transverse floor framing channels, bent to follow the circular outline of the opening I! and the adjacent fairing l8, having their upper flang s in the same horizontal plane to support the floor plates 25. These channel members are of varying depths to follow the contour of the intersection of the opening and the cylindrical shape of the fuselage.

The upper turret assembly is supported upon the upper column comprising the pedestal base or bearing portion 28. the azimuth torq e shaft portion 29 and the pedestal can portion 30. A gun limber or support 3| together with the yoke 4 I, is-

pivotally mounted for elevational movement upon the pivotal support 32 carried by the pedestal, the limber supporting at each side the dual or twin mach ne guns 33. and 34. The base portion 28 is provided with a plurality of apertured lug portions 35 adapted to receive the studs 36 carried by the reinforced bracket structure?! and 38, and to be securely fastened thereto by the nuts 39. It will be noted that the two longitudinal beams 23 and 24, and the short transverse reinforcing members 31 and 38 framed between the longitudinal beams, form a box section or structure 40 of rectangular plan form and into the four corners of which the legs 35 ofthe pedestal base 28 are attached.

Both the guns 33 and 34, and the upper turret cover or shield l6, are supported from the aforementioned pivot 32 by means of the yoke 4| The gun limber 3! is provided with a socket portion which is adapted to receive the pin 42 of the yoke, the upper flanged portion of which is attached to the limber by means of the screws 43. The pivot member 32 is of tubular construction and is fixedly attached to both the yoke 4! and the gear segment 44 (see Figs. and 6) in order that as the gear segment is rotated in elevation the attached assembly (comprising the pin 32, the yoke 4|, the limber 3| and the attached machine guns and turret l6) is moved as a unit.

The front mounting unit 45 for the gun 33, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is attached to the threaded aperture 46 in the cross frame portion 4'! of the limber 3|. The rear mounting unit 48 for the same gun is carriedby a bracket 49 supported from the yoke by the bolts 56. The forward mounting 45 is capable of adjustment in elevation and the rear'mounting is adjustable in azimuth in order that the guns may be adjusted into the desired aimed settings either with respect to each other, or with respect to the adjacent turret shield l6. Each of the machine guns is in turn attached to the respective mountings 45 and 48 through connections to the gun trunnions 5| and 52 respectively.

Reference to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive will reveal that the enclosure for the upper turret I6 is partspherical in shape with its upper portion, when in the stowed position as shown in these figures,

of a relatively flattened intermediate shape with peripheral portions of relatively shorter radius connectin the part-spherical portion. Approximately one half of'the spherical portion of the turret "5 has been cut away as defined by the edges. 53 and 54 leaving the remaining partspherical portion 55. The relatively flat outer portion referred to above is indicated at 56 and the more sharply rounded edge portions are indicated at5'l. The turret is reinforced by the hatshaped channel stiifener 58 centrally disposed with respect'to the axis EF and the planeof symmetry of the turret. Brackets591and 60 of H cross-section are attached to the channel 58, and by the bolts 6| and 62 are in turn fastened to the limber 3i The turret I6 is preferably provided with a pair of removable panels Ilia, in Figs. 1 and 4, in its outer skin or covering in'the flattened portion adjacent each side of the channel 58 in order to provide access for servicing and repairing as well as the removal of the machine guns and the associated structure.

Both the upper and lower turrets are of the re motely controlled type, being aimed by means of suitable periscopic sighting arrangements and;

ber 3i by the stiffening framework 63 and the end framingclips 64 and bolts 65. It willraccordingly be noted from the shape of the turret cover that in the retracted position shown its projection beyond the outline of the fuselage is relatively small and the resistance to flight is accordingly minimized; and alsothat in this position the turret is sealed for protection from the weather by the tubular element l5., 7 I

The torque shaft portion 29 of the supporting pedestal has fixedly attached to it a pair of pro:- jecting brackets 66 and 61 to which a further pair of projection brackets 68 and 69 are at. tached for the support of the ammunition boxes or containers 10 and H In the arrangement which has been illustrated relatively large ammunition boxes 10 and H are provided which 0612- tain some 600 rounds for each machine gun. It will be noted that these ammunition boxes are fixedly attached to the rotatable portion of the turret structure and they accordingly rotate with the turret and the guns which they feed. The

cartridge clips are ejected laterally from each gun toward each other and are ejected down the chutes 14, l5, l2 and 13 into the receiving box [6. (See Figs. 1 and 4.)

Referring now to Fig. 5 and the supporting detail Figures 6 to 8 inclusive, there is shown the column or pedestal support for the upper turret H5 in a detailed cross-sectional elevation. The

lowe or base portion 28 is provided with two parallel and horizontal driving Worms i1 and 18 for the elevation and azimuth control, respectively, of the turret and its guns. As shown in Fig. '7, the worm 11 is mounted upon a shaft 19 which is journalled at and 8i, and is provided. with a driving connection at 82 for attachment 10 a external power source to be subsequently described; The worm T'I drivingly meshes with the worm gear 83' which is attached by the studs 84 to the hollowquill shaft 85. The'worm. 18' issimilarly attached to a-short shaft 86 which is journalled at8'I- and 88 within the casing of the support member 28, and the shaft 86 is similarly recessed at 89'for attachment to a suitable drive coupling. The worm I8 is in driving engagement with the wormgear. 90 which in turn is fixedly attached to the torque pedestal portion 29 by means of the studs 91. Access plates or covers 92 and 93 are provided within the casing of the base" portion 28- adjacent the worms I1 and I8, respectively, and a cover plate 94' is releasably attached for access to the bottom portion of the base member, being fastened thereto by the bolts 95.

Bearings Stand 91, are provided between the upper portion of the base member 28 and the intermediate portion of the torque shaft 29, and. between the lower portion of each-of these members, respectively, thereby permitting the torque tube 29 to rotate with respect to the fixed base member 28, within which it is j'ournalled. The pedestal head or cap portion 30 is fixedly attached by means of the bolts 98 through the abutting flanged portions 09' and IOU-such that rotation of the Worm I8 imparts corresponding rotation to the worm gear 90-, the torque shaft 29. the cap 30 and the guns and turret I 6.

Suitable fire control mechanism, preferably of the'ele'ctrical type, is provided from a remote station b suitable slip-ring and brush mechanism from the fixed base pedestal 28 to the movable torque'portion 29, and thence'to the guns of the upper turret as indicated by the dotted lines IOI in'Figs. 2 and 3. As indicated in Fig. 8, the fire control wiring is brought in from the gunners position to the'contacts I02 within the box I03 to the brushes I04 for engagement with the sliprings I05 which are fixedly attached to the rotatable torque member 29. Each of the rings I05 on the torque member 29 isconnected by the wiring I06, suitably clamped as at I! to the inside wall of the torque'pedestal member 29, through the outlet fitting I08 to a support connection I00 on the inside of the turret, and thence-to the firing control mechanism II'0 on the guns 33 and 34. Suitable means for grounding stray currents which may accumulate-or be transmitted to the movable parts of the gun turret structure are picked up from the slip-ring I I I by means of the brush connections I I2 which are threaded directly into and grounded within the base pedestal member 28. It will be understood that the base member 28 itself is grounded to the aircraft structure either by virtue of its supporting contact thereby or by separate bonding or grounding connections.

As shown in Fig. 5, the inner quill shaft 85 is journalled within the torque member 29 by means of the lower anti-friction bearing I I3, and the upper bearing II4, these hearings being retained by the spanner nuts I I and I I6, respectively. A bevel gear II! is attached, as b the nuts II8, to the upper thickened terminal of the quill shaft 85, being locked in its adjusted position by the screw H9. Between the bevel gear Ill and the previously referred to worm gear segment 44 on the pivot 32, there is disposed an angularly inclined shaft I20 journalled at its higher end in the ball bearing I2I and at its lower end in the roller bearing I22. A worm I23 is formed upon or fixedly attached to the shaft I20 being held thereby in meshing engagement with gear segment 44; The lower end. of the shaft I20 has fixed thereto the bevel gear I24, which is retained by the lock nut I25, and meshes with gear II I. Access openings are provided in the walls of the cap member 30 adjacent the ends of the shaft I20, being provided with covers I26 and I2! respectively.

The pivot 32, which permits the yoke M to be rotationally elevated about its axis, is of the tubular type being retained within the hub 4I'a of the yoke by the cup-shaped end retainers 32a and the through bolt 32b. The yoke 4| is preferably constructed in two halves, attachedtogether by the bolts 4Ie through the lower part of the pin fitting 42 such that the serrated end llb of the hubs 41a can engage the similarly serrated or toothed surfaces Ma on the gear segment 44. The engagement of these serrated surfaces insures positive rotation of the yoke and its attached guns and turret as the gear segment 44 is caused to rotate by rotation of the shaft '10, the worm and worm-wheel set i1 and 83, quill shaft and the bevel gear set IIl and I2 3. The cap or head portion 30 of the pedestal mount is provided with a pair of anti-friction bearings I28 within which the tubular pin and hub assembly 32 is adapted to rotate and the upper portion of the cap 30 is provided with a cover plate 4Ic held by the bolts M d providing for ready access to the interior of the pedestal cap.

At the base of the pedestal member 20, an hydraulic gun charger line I29 is connected to the swing joint fitting I30, the upper half of which is attached at I30a to the quill shaft 85 and the centrally disposed conduit IBI. Similarly the lower portion of the swing or swivel joint. I32 is attached by the bolts I32a through the bevel gear II'I to the upper terminal of the quill shaft 05 and in communication with the central conduit I3I, which is accordingly adapted to rotate with the quill shaft. The upper portion of the swing joint I32 is fluidly connected to the bushed fitting I33 and by means of similar swing-joints, or the use of flexible hose, is connected to the swin joint I30 supported upon the cap portion of the pedestal and thence through the flexible hose I35 and the junction box fitting I36, attached to the re-enforcing channel 58, to the gun charger attachment adjacent each gun.

As indicated in Fig. 1, each turret and its guns are driven by power units I3'I of the electrically driven hydraulic pump type or other suitable and available power mechanism. The speed and direction of movement of the turrets are automatically determined by the sighting mechanism, which may be remote from the turrets. In other words the gun sight is aimed at the target and the turret automatically follows, continuing to track the target as the sight is moved, and coming to rest upon the discontinuance of movement of the sight by virtue of the inclusion of a followup arrangement in the turret power mechanism. The power for operating it in azimuth and tilting it in elevational adjustment, is provided by the electrically driven hydraulic pumps I3'I'a, which in turn drive hydraulic motors. An electrically controlled valving arrangement is interposed between the pump and hydraulic motor, being hooked in with the sighting and fire control mechanism which is electrically controlled to vary the output of the pump whereby the speed. of the hydraulic motor is also varied. Each electric motor driven hydraulic pump I3'Ia is of the constant speed type and runs continuously while the power is on whether the turret is in motion or not.

The installation includes a difierential compensator mechanism I38 which may be compared to the difierential in the rear end of an automobile. As shown in Fig. the turret design includes two co-axial or cencentric transmission shafts 85 and 29 within the pedestal column 28. The first torque shaft 85 operates a worm gear mechanism I23 at the top of the pedestal to effect the desired elevational adjustment of the guns. The other shaft 29 is driven by the worm gear set 'I89Il in the turret base whereby the entire turret and canopy is rotated. When the turret is moved in both planes simultaneously it becomes necessary to compensate for the component of movement which is introduced in each of the gear trains by virtue of the relative movement of the other train. In a case where the turret is slowly elevating while rotating clockwise, for example, the fire control mechanism would require a compensation to add in some additional elevational movement; Conversely,

- with the turret slowly elevating while rotating counter-clockwise, it would be necesary to subtract a certain amount of elevational movement. The aforementioned units are connected by the drive shafts I39 and universal joints I40 to the respective worm drive shaft connections 82 and 89, in the base of the turret pedestal.

With the exception of the details of the limber of the lower pair of guns, the lower pedestal and. turret assembly is substantially identical with the upper assembly which has been described above. The pedestal base or attachment section MI is suspended from the central box portion 49 and within this base portion there is rotatably journalled the torque portion I42, and the terminal or end portion I43, corresponding to the upper cap portion 30. A substantially similar yoke I44 is suspended from the pivots in the end portion I43 and has suspended therefrom the limber I45 of the guns I46 and M1. Front and rear adjusting mounts I48 and I49 are provided between the gun and the limber I45 to permit aligning and setting of the guns with respect to the turret and the aircraft structure. A similar fire control cable I50 extends from the torque section of the lower pedestal I42 to the firing controls for the guns and a flexible hydraulic hose I5I extends from the lower support member I43 through the junction fitting I52 to the gun chargers of the respective guns. Each of the lower guns I46 and I41 is provided with individual ammunition boxes I53 respectively carried upon the brackets I54 supported from the intermediate portion I42 of the lower suspension structure.

In Fig. 9 there is diagrammatically shown to a reduced scale a plan of the structural support for the upper and lower columns. A more detailed plan view to a larger scale is shown in Fig. and a side elevational view of the structural support of Fig. 10 is shown in Fig. 11. Diagonal braces I55 and I56 extend horizontally from the junction of the former frames II and I2 with the transverse brackets 2I and 22. These diagonals are attached at their outer ends to interconnecting angle ties 24a are attached across the longitudinal beams 23 and 24, extending transversely or parallel to the former frames II and I2, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. The outer terminals of the diagonals I and I56 are attached and braced to the former frames and side wall structure by means of gusset plates I55a and I56a. These diagonals are also attached to the longitudinal beams 23 by means of the gussets I55!) and I56b respectively, both of which are of channel cross-section. The intermediate portions of the diagonals I55 and I56 are each tied to the transverse framing by means of the horizontal plates II e and I2e which are in turn attached to the transverse frames by meansof the horizontal angles II). and-I2 respectively.

The above mentioned rear mounting unit 48 is shown in detail in Fig. 12. The rear portion of the gun 33 is provided with a pair of apertured downwardly extending lugs 33a. within which the gun trunnion 52 is adapted to be journaled. The rear adjusting mount 48 is provided with a quick disconnect fitting 48a, and has a V-edgeattachment portion 4822. As indicated above the rear portion of the gun is supported from the yoke 4| by a bracket 49 having complementary V-grooves 49a within which the unit 48 may slide to permit of a slight recoil movement. The outer cover of the unit 48a has a knurled rim and contains on its inner surface a pair of arcuate slots arranged in opposed relationship. The post portion carried by the supporting part 48b is provided with a complementary annular groove adjacent to its upper end and a pair of ball bearings 48d are arranged for co operative engagement between the cam slots of the inner surface of the cover 48a and the annular groove in the post portion 48b.

The unit 48 provides an arragement whereby a quarter turn of the knurled cap 48a disengages the balls 48d and allows the gun 33 to be lifted from the mount 48. The upper surface of the knurled cap 48a is apertured to permit the extension therethrough of the internallythreaded lug or eye 480 which is restrained from upward movement by a retaining flange engaged by the knurled cap. The boss 480 is provided with a transversely threaded bore to receive the adjusting sleeve 48e which in turn is keyed to the shank of the adjusting trunnion bolt 52. It will accordingly be noted that as the nut 52a is loosened and the bolt 52 rotated, the lug 480 will advance or retreat with respect to the threaded sleeve 48e, imparting similar movement in a horizontal plane to the gun 33, which may be locked in that position by tightening the nut 52 a.

For purposes of explaining the present invention, the turrets have been indicated in the drawings as having spherical portions of approximately 36 inches in diameter, housing twin machine guns of .50 calibre, with individual ammunition boxes of approximately 600 rounds capacity. It will, of course, be understood that the present invention is applicable to turrets-of other sizes, as well as guns and ammunition containers of various sizes and capacities. The

drive units for the lower turret are substantially 7 the same as those which have been described above for the upper turret. The two turrets may be operated either simultaneously in unison or, on the other hand, they may be separately and individually operated for training upon separate targets. In Fig. 2, there has been indicated in dotted lines the fully depressed position of the lower guns ,I46 and MT in which they several "have beenrotated 90 degrees about the lower yoke pivot from their full line position. It will, of course, .be understood that in this position of the lower turret, the upper guns will be ineffective for purposes of firing upon the same objective. The fields of fire of each turret overlap slightly and suitable automatic limiting devices are preferably provided in the fire control systems of each turret to prevent their firing at times when portions of the airplane become aligned with the line of fire of the guns. indicated above the empty cases and belt links projected from the upper pair of guns are guided by the chutes 14 and 15 into the receiving hopper 16, and the cases and links of the lower guns are similarly salvaged'by suitable conveyor means, or they may be ejected through the bottom of the turret clear of the airplane. 7

Other forms and modifications of the present invention, both with re meet to its general arrangement and the details of its several parts, which may become apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the present description, are all intended to come within the scope and spirit of this invention as more particularly set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A support for a dual aircraft turret installation comprising a fuselage structure having upwardly and downwardly directed openings therein, upper and lower turrets disposed within said respective openings, said fuselage structure including a pair of transverse former ringsdisposed on each side of said fuselage openings, laterally extending beams supported from one side only of each of said fuselage rings, longitudinal beams having their ends framed to the ends of said laterally extending beams and col-' umnar type support means attached to the upper and lower sides of said longitudinal beams for the 'movable support of said upper and lower turrets disposed within said upper and lower fuselage openings whereby the opposite side of said fuselage is unobstructed to permit fore and aft access therethrough.

2. A column support for an aircraft gun turret comprising a tubular fixed base portion supportedby the aircraft, a hollow co-axial column portion rotatably journaled within said base portion, a rotatable cap portion fixedly attached to said rotatable portion for rotation therewith upon a common axis, pivot meanscarriedbysaid cap portion for rotation about an axis normal to the axis of said rotatable column support portions, a gun turret pivotally mounted upon said cap pivot means for rotation therewith and with respect thereto, power drive means extending through said fixed base portion adapted for the rotation of said rotatable column support portions and said gun turret about said common axis of rotation and drive transmission means extending from said fixed base portion co-axially through and housed within said rotatable portions constructed and arranged to rotate said pivot means and said gun turret about said second axis normal to said common axis.

3. In an aircraft gun turret installation, a pedestal for the adjustable support of a gun turret from the aircraft structure, said pedestal including a base portion fixed to the aircraft structure and a tubular rotatable portion journaled within said base portion for rotation on a vertical axis, said. tubular rotatable portion having a pivot journaled therein for rotation 10 upon a transverse axis normal to the axis of rotation of said tubular portion, yoke means fixed to said pivot arranged to rotate therewith about said transverse pivot axis, a gun turret carried by said yoke means, dual power sources :for the rotation of said gun turret about each .of said axes of rotation, nrst gear-means operativeiy interconnecting a first of said power sources with said tubular portion for rotation of said gun turret about the first said axis, shaft means (so-axially disposed and journaled within said tubular portion, second gear means operatively interconnecting said second power source and a first end of said shaft means for rotation thereof about said vertical axis, further gear means operatively interconnecting the opposite end of said shaft means with said yoke means for the rotation of said yoke means about said transverse axis and the concurrent elevational rotation of said gun turret.

4. A gun turret installation for a waist posi- "tion in an aircraft fuselage having vertically aligned openings in its upper and lower portions; said fuselage including a framework comprising a pair of transverse former rings disposed fore and aft of said vertically aligned openings; structural support means including elements laterally extending from the said framework and said former rings from one side of said fuselage only, longitudinally extending members interconnecting the free ends of said laterally extending support means, and stiffening elements extending between said former rings and said longitudinally extending beam elements; a gun turret arranged for controlled movements within each of said fuselage openings; power means for controlling the movements of each said gun turret; a pair of vertically aligned columnar turret supports attached, respectively, above and below said structural support means arranged for the sup- .port of said upper and lower gun turrets within .said respective openings; said structural support means constructed and arranged in such manner that the opposite side of said fuselage is unobstructed to permit fore and aft access therethrough.

5. A waist gun turret installation for an aircraft fuselage structure having vertically aligned openings in its upper and lower portions, including a pair of longitudinally spaced transverse "former rings in the structure of said fuselage disposed on each side of side aligned openingsin the longitudinal direction, laterally inwardly extending elements supported from one side only of each of said former rings, longitiidin'al elements extending between the inner free ends of said laterally extending elements, said laterally extending elements and said longitudinal elements cooperating to form a gun turret platform extending into the central portion of the fuselage from one side of said fuselage structure only, vertically aligned columnar supports attached to said gun turret platform extending above and below said platform, said columnar supports having upper and lower terminal portions each adapted for rotation about both vertical and horizontal axes, gun turret carrying means supported from'said upper and lower columnar terminal portions within each of said fuselage openings, and power transmis-- sion means housed within said columnar supports for the vertical and horizontal movement of each of said upper and lower gun turrets, said gun turret platform constructed and arranged 11 to provide a passageway along the opposite side of the interior of said fuselage.

6. In an aircraft gun turret installation, an aircraft fuselage having an opening therein, a

part-spherical turret mounted for azimuthal and elevational movements within said fuselage opening, a hollow columnar support member rotatably journalled within said aircraft. fuselage on a vertical axis passing through the center of said fuselage opening, a drive shaft co-axially mounted internally within said hollow columnar support member, yoke means pivotally mounted upon a horizontal pivot journalled within said rotatable columnar'support member and operatively engaging said drive shaft, worm drive means for rotating said internal drive shaft, a unitary bevel-gear worm drive operatively associated with said drive shaft and said yoke pivot for rotating said yoke means about the horizontal axis of its said pivot, structural means adapted to fixedly support said turret from said rotatable yoke means, further drive means including a worm gear operatively associated with said columnar support member arranged for the rotation of said columnar support member about the first said vertical axis for azimuthal movements of said yoke means and said attached gun turret about said vertical axis,'the rotation of said yoke means about said horizontal pivot axis imparting elevational movements to said gun turret.

7. An aircraft gun turret installation within a fuselage having a vertically directed opening through an upper portion thereof, comprising a vertical pedestal support assembly axially disposed with respect to said opening, said pedestal support assembly including a hollow base member fixedly attached to said aircraft fuselage, a hollow rotatable support member coaxially journalled within said fixed base member, a yoke member mounted for rotation about a pivot having a horizontal axis transverse to that of said pedestal support assembly, said yoke member pivot journalled within said rotatable support member, ordnance means housed within a turret fairing fixedly carried by said yoke member, drive means housed within said hollow base member arranged to rotate said yoke member and its attached ordnance means and turret fairing about a vertical axis, a vertical drive shaft coaxially journalled within said hollow rotatable support member, gear means operatively connecting said vertical drive shaft with said yoke member pivot, and further drive means housed within said hollow base member arranged to elevate said yoke member and its attached ordnance means and turret fairing by rotation of said vertical drive shaft and the associated gear means.

8. An aircraft gun turret installation comprising an aircraft fuselage structure, an opening through a wall of said fuselage structure, a pedestal turret support supported upon said fuselage structure having a major axis extending through said fuselage wall opening, said pedestal turret support comprising a fixed base portion, a tubular torque portion journalled in said base portion for rotation about said major axis, a cap portion carried by said tubular torque portion for rotation therewith about said major axis, a yoke portion carried by a pivot journalled within said cap portion for rotation about an axis normal to said major axis, a drive shaft disposed within said tubular torque portion journalled for rotation therein about said major axis, gear means disposed within said cap portion operatively engaging said drive shaft and said yoke portion pivot, a gun turret carried by said yoke portion and separate drive transmission means journalled and housed within said pedestal support constructed and arranged to rotate said yoke member and attached gun turret in azimuth by rotation of said tubular torque portion and in elevation by rotation of said drive shaft, gear means and said yoke pivot.

9. In anaircraft gun turret, a supporting structure, a tubular base portion fixedly attached to said supporting structure, a tubular column member journalled for rotation within said fixedbase portion about a major axis, a pivot element journalled within said column member for rotation on an axis transverse to said major axisra gun turret supported upon said pivot element, drive means for rotating said tubular column member about said major axis for movement of said gun turretin azimuth, and separate .drive means including a worm gear segment fixed to said pivot driven by bevel gearing enclosed by and journalled within said tubular column member for movement of said gun turret in elevation.

10. In a gun turret mounting, a base member fixedly attached to a supporting structure, a tubular member journalled within said base member for rotation therein about a major axis, a cap member carried by said tubular member having a pivot journalled therein for rotation upon an axis transverse to said major axis, a support member fixedly attached to said pivot for' the support of a gun and its fairing, worm gear means in operative engagement with said tubular member for its rotation about said major axis and the rotation of said gun and fairing in azimuth, and separate power transmission means including a worm and gear segment extending from within said fixed base portion into saidcap portion in operative engagement with said pivot arranged for the rotation of said pivot about its transverse axis and the concurrent elevational movement of said support member and its attached gun and fairing.

11. In an aircraft gun turret installation, a

supporting structure, a pedestal member defining a major axis of turret rotation in azimuth, a tubular column member journalled at its first extremity within said pedestal member for rotation about said major axis, said column member having a pivot journalled within its opposite extremity for rotation of said pivot on an axis transverse to said major axis, a yoke member fixedly attached to said transverse pivot, gun means carried by said yoke member, worm gear means for driving said column member and said gun means in azimuth about said major axis, a shaft member journalled within and extending co-axially with said column member, a bevel gear set in meshing engagement with one terminal of said shaft member, a worm element journalled within said column member for rotation with one of the gears of said bevel gear set, a e r ment attached to said transverse pivot in meshing engagement with said worm element, and worm gear means operatively connected to the opposite extremity of said shaft member for rotating said shaft member, said beveled gear set, and said worm and gear segments for movement of said yoke member and the attached gun means in elevation about the axis of. said transverse pivot.

12. A columnar type support for an aircraft gun turret comprising a tubular base portion fixedly supported upon the aircraft, a tubular column portion rotatably journalledwithin said fixed base portion for rotation about a major axis of the gun turret, pivot means carried by said column portion journalled therein for rotation about an axis normal to said major axis of the gun turret, a gun turret carried by said pivot means arranged for rotation therewith about the axis of said pivot means and With respect to said pivot means about the major axis of said gun turret, power drive means extending through said fixed base portion for the rotation of said column portion and said gun turret about said major axis of rotation for azimuthal movements of said gun turret, and drive transmission means extending from a position within said fixed base portion coaxially through and housed within said rotatable column portion arranged to rotate said pivot means and said gun turret about said pivot axis normal to said major axis for elevational movements of said gun turret.

13. In an aircraft gun turret installation, an aircraft fuselage having an opening therein, a part-spherical turret mounted for azimuthal and elevational movements within said fuselage opening, a hollow columnar support member rotatably journalled within said aircraft fuselage on a vertical axis passing through said fuselage opening, yoke means pivotally carried upon said rotatable columnar support upon a pivot having a horizontal axis arranged for the elevational rotation of said yoke means about said horizontal axis perpendicular to the first said vertical axis of said columnar support, structural means arranged for the fixed support of said turret from said yoke means, drive means including a worm gear fixed to said columnar support member arranged to rotate said columnar support member and the attached yoke means about the first said vertical axis for azimuthal movement of said yoke means and said gun turret, a unitary bevel-gear and worm drive housed within said columnar support member operatively engaging said yoke means for movement of the same about its horizontal pivot axis, a vertical drive shaft co-axially mounted within said columnar support member in operative engagement with said unitary drive for said yoke means, and further drive means including a worm gear engaging said vertical drive shaft constructed and arranged in such manner that said first drive means imparts azimuthal movements to said yoke means and said gun turret by rotation of said columnar support member and said further drive means imparts elevational movements to said yoke means and said gun turret by rotation of said vertical drive shaft and actuation of said unitary bevel-gear and worm drive.

14. A support for an aircraft turret comprising a longitudinally extending fuselage structure having a vertically directed opening therein, a movable turret disposed within said opening, said fuselage structure including a pair of longitudinally spaced former rings disposed fore and aft of said fuselage opening, transversely extending beams supported from one side only of each of said fuselage rings projecting into the central axial portion of said fuselage structure, structural means for tieing together the free end portions of said transversely extending beams, and columnar type'support means attached to said transversely extending beams in the region of the central portion of said fuselage for the movable support of said turret constructed and arranged in such manner that the opposite side of said fuselage interior is unobstructed by said aircraft turret installation to permit fore and aft access therethrough.

15. A support for a dual aircraft turret installation comprising a fuselage structure having vertically directed openings therein, upper and lower movable turrets disposed within said openings, said fuselage structure including a pair of longitudinally spaced transverse former rings disposed fore and aft of said fuselage opening, laterally extending beams supported from a first side only of each of said fuselage rings in the region of the mid-height of said fuselage structure, longitudinally extending framing means attached to the unsupported opposite ends of said laterally extendin beams, and vertically extending tubular support means attached to the said laterally extending beams for the movable support of said upper and lower turrets within said fuselage openings constructed and arranged in such manner that the opposite or second side of said fuselage structure interior is unobstructed to permit fore and aft access therethrough.

GEORGE BUSSIERE. EDWARD C. HOLTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,366,410 Klemperer et al Jan. 2, 1945 2,373,990 Barnhart Apr. 1'7, 1945 2,396,314 Brown et al Mar. 12, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 798,816 France Mar. 11, 1936 817,970 France June 7, 1937 515,993 Great Britain June 29, 1937 

